Christmas gift: Chiefs will rest starters

The Kansas Chiefs, locked into the No. 5 playoff spot and not excited about exposing their players to injuries, are expected to rest their starters against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Translated, the Kansas City Star reports, that means the Chiefs, 11-4, likely will approach this game against San Diego, 8-7, much like KC coach Andy Reid did four times in Philadelphia when his Eagles’ teams were locked into playoff positions going into a final week, the same way most teams approach a final preseason game.

He’ll give the starters a series or two and then go to the backups. Unlike in the preseason, a team with 53 players on the active roster can’t rest everyone. But don’t expect to see much of quarterback Alex Smith, running back Jamaal Charles or outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who did not practice Tuesday because of a swollen knee.

“I’m going to work some guys in,” Reid said. “Most of them have already worked in. … I talked to the team, and I will have it figured out by the end of the week exactly how I’m going to work it."

Why is this important news to you on Christmas Day?

Well, the Chiefs play the San Diego Chargers. And the fact they're going to play reserves gives the Chargers, who've already beaten the Chiefs once this season, a greater chance of winning this game as well.

And ...

For the Dolphins to make the playoffs, they need to win on Sunday against the New York Jets and hope for one of two other things to happen: Miami needs Baltimore to lose OR San Diego to beat Kansas City.